The Notable Films of 2010: Part Seven

Summary: Two British sci-fi fanatics on an American road trip find their conspiracy dreams coming true when they encounter an escaped alien near Area 51. As they try to reunite him with his mother ship, they find ‘Paul’ has many more opinions than your typical ET.

Analysis: One of the best current onscreen comedy duos, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, return to deliver a comedic tribute to geek cinema with “Paul”. Sadly it doesn’t involve them re-teaming with their regular brilliant directing cohort Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”), but they’ve got the next best cross-Atlantic equivalent in the form of “Superbad” and “Adventureland” helmer Greg Mottola who will direct from a script Pegg and Frost penned.

Supporting roles are stacked here with the likes of SNL stars Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader; “Arrested Development” stars Jason Bateman and Jeffrey Tambor; and flat out movie greats like Jane Lynch, Sigourney Weaver and Blythe Danner. There remains some concern about the alien creature itself, but Seth Rogen easily stole the show in “Monsters vs. Aliens” as Bob the Blob’s voice – given a proper script it’ll be great to see what he can do.

Though scheduled for a worldwide release in 2010, there’s no specific dates locked in as yet. However with the San Diego Comic Con featuring prominently in the plot, it’s not a stretch to consider a special screening/premiere and/or publicity launch at the event in July. Pegg and Frost originally were slated to film at the convention but had to end up recreating it in New Mexico later because the actual event has become too big for a feature film shoot to take place.